The National tribune., 1887-09-15
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


Sunday school Apparatus.
SUBJECT: SUNDAY-sCHooL APPARATUS.
Dealing with this subject, it must be remen-
bered we look on Sunday-school work in gen.
eral. No one school may perhaps realize all
the possibilities. We state each item of appa-
ratus and accessories without discussion.
1. AstO Comfort.-1. Have choice rooms; neat,
airy, healthful neither in cellar nor attic;
neither damp nor dark. 1t is better to have
buildings separate from the church. Church
rooms proper and those for the Sunday-school
are for different purposes, and should not be
the same. The convenieuces, arrangements
and items of apparatus almost necessarily re-
quire separate apartments. Architects are be-
ginning to give attention to this, and in their
plans keep good lookout for such convent
ences. Let the school-room be beautiful and
entertaining. so as through it to lead children
into love of the Holy Place. Thus they will
form pleasing associations with religion. Fresco
the walls. Hang up maps, pictures, notices,
etc. Have carpets If possible. Besides giving
additional comfort, they check noise and in
duce quietness. 2. Have comfortable seats.
The Sunday-school is place of voluntary at
tendance, and as a rule only such children will
yield to undergo an hours uneasiness as are
forced to do SO by careless or oyer-zealous par
ents. Let the seats be graduated. The feet
should always reach the floor. A child cannot
sit full hour in comfort or relish with the
unpleasant feeling caused by dangling limbs
This is only refined cruelty. Graduate and
cushion the seats.
III. As 10 ConreEience-1. 1t is well to have
the infant-room and the rooms occupied by the
more advanced Bible classes so situated and
arranged as to render it unnecessary for pupils
to pass in and out from the main room for the
opening and closing exercises of the school. 1t
is certain that for such services the entire
school should be together. There can be fold
ing or sliding doors opening into the infant
and Bible-class departments. Thus there will
be convenience for both union and separateness
of exercises. These doors should be light and
work readily. Glass should be used as much as
possible, so that while the school is separate as
to audibleness, it may be one as to visibility,
Doors can be made and hung so as to open
and shut with hardly any pereeptible noise.
Thus is prevented such confusion as is always
caused by the transference into side-ToOms of
the infant and Bible-elass departments, the
members of which ought to recite and be in
structed separately. 2. Then, convenience of
recitation requires peculiar sittings for classes
Semi-circular seats are best. Let the teacher
occupy a chair in the center of the circle, were
it completed, and so about equi-distant, say
three to four feet, from all the scholars.
III. as TO Cleanliness. mops, busters
have good deal to do with religion. Dirt is
sin, as cleanliness is holiness. Soiled, dusty
day-school Immediately they have attained the
margin of free agency.
w. Let the Rooms BE Wei TeHtilGted.-Let in
the air as it blows from the clover-felds, down
from the blue skies, over the snOw-drifts, or of
from the rolling ocean. Keep away drOwsi-
ness.
V. As to Order-1. Let the school be well and
completely oficered. 2. Have thorough and
well organized departments. In the hour of
peril to the Free Church, Scotland, DIR. Cham
bers went forth. crying aloud, "Organize! Or
ganiZe! Organized" 3. Have q we'll under
stood program. 1t would be well to have it
printed, circulated, or conspicuously plaearded.
4. Let the Superintendent have bell. The
ringing of it should be authoritative, and fully
understood in its signals.
VI. apparatus for Work Outside the School
rOOm.-l. As to scholars: a. Well selected Ii
brary books should be furnished for home read
ing. These should bear mainly on moral or
religious topics. Secular books are furnished by
the district schools. B. Choice newspapers, PAM
phlets and lesson leaves should be supplied C. It
would be well TO assemble the pupils on q week.
day afternoon or evening for the practice Ofsing-
ing. 2. As to teachers: q. Each should regularly
read some Sunday school journal. b. Let there
be a teachers meeting every week. c. Together
with the officers the teachers should have a
regular organization, charged with the care OF
the school. d. 1t is well for each teacher to in
vite his class to his home once in while socially
e. Teachers should visit scholars, especially
such as are absent from the school. !. Attend
normal classes, conventions, institutes. Q.
Teachers should try to accumulate in their
libraries such books as help in giving instruc-
tion as to the Bible and religion. h. 1t is good
plan to save, in scrapboOk, select pieces illus
trations, pictures, etc., which may add interest
in classes. 3. As to teachers Jointly with the
more adult pupils: q. 1t is well to have a
literary society, officered, furnished with
library and reading-room enjoying discus
sions, lectures, etc., bearing on Sunday-school
work. b. A missionary society. c. A temper
ance society. 4. Miscellaneous: q. Have Cata-
log or Annual, giving, e. O., Pastors name and
address, name and address Of Superintendent,
name and address of Musical Director, names
and addresses of officers and teachers, also of all
officers OF the branch or auxiliary departments
names Of all scholars by classes, historical
record OF each year, an outline of lessons fol-
the coming year, etc. b. Have anniversaries
c. Where no eatalog is printed, have a simple
card with Sunday-school hours and lessons, etc
VII. As 10 the Immediate Act Of TeachiRg-1
On the part of the superintendent blackboard
and maps. 2. On the part of the teachers states
drawings, object teaching. 3. As to the infant
class good cabinet of pictures, drawings, OBJ
jects, etc. There should be exposed only few
at time, adapted to the lesson Of each Sun.
day.
VIII. As 10 ERcourdgement.-Th question Of
Offering rewards is debated. We should doubt.
less do good for its own sake. And yet is il
worse for to offer rewards to pupils for fidelity
than for God to hold out inducements in the
shape of prizes or rewards to those who leave
| sin? Very many ofthe most successful workers
| in Sunday-schools believe il well to show ap.
proyal of punctuality, regularity of attendance
and efforts to secure new scholars by certain
complimentary gifts. Thus the pupil has an
intimation of how favorably all such qualities
will be regarded by society in general. Most u
our schools and colleges have some methods o.
| stimulating students.
TX. as 10 Entertaiament.-1. While in school
drawings, paintings, notices, etc., on walls
music and singing, bouquets, wreathes, vines
flowers. 2. Out of school, picnics, social gath
| erings, Christmas-trees, excursions.
/ Y. As TO Preparation for Reciting and Instruct
4 ing-Bible catechism, commentaries, Trench on
| Miracles and PARALLELS, Tholuck ON the Sermon
on the Mount; standard work on biblical
antiquities, maps, biblical encyclopedias, die
tionaries, concordance, good Gospel harmony
some standard Life of Christ.
XI. As 10 Dismissal Of Scholars-These should
always be furnished letters commanding then
to the school whittier they move. Do not per
NIT pupils simply to drop out Of school and
disappear. Let them depart in formal way
and advise them at once to enter the new
i schonl